Weight motor and power transmission apparatus



June 24, 1947. c. E. SOWERWINE 2,422,753

WEiGHT MQTOR AND POWER TRANSMISSION APPARATUS Filed Oct. 2, 1944 4 ShetsShee t l a l Inventor CHHEL 5 E ASd/VfEW/NE June 24, 1947. c. E; SOWERWINE 2,422,753

WEIGHT MOTOR AND POWER TRANSMISSION APPARATUS Filed Oct. 2, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor June 24, 1947.

I c. E. SOWERWINE WEIGHT MOTOR AND POWER TRANSMISSION APPARATUS Filed Oct. 2 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I nz'enlor Cay/e155 ZJzME/EMA/E,

and

June 24, 1947. Q E; SOWERWINE 2,422,753

WEIGHT MOTOR AND POWER TRANSMISSIDN APPARATUS Filed Oct. 2, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I rmentof 5 67/0/2455 5 Joh/A'EM/VE,

Patented June 24, 1947 WEIGHT MOTOR AND POWER TRAN S- MISSION APPARATUS Charles E. Sowerwine, Ames, Iowa Application October 2, 1944, Serial No. 556,771

2 Claims.

My invention relates to an apparatus in which power is generated by the lowering of weights, and in which the power is transmitted to an electrical generator through gearing and shafts equipped with momentum-or flywheels, means being provided for automatically alternately elevating and allowing the weights to lower -so as to continuously drive the electrical generator.

My invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of *devices as-hereinafter described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In-the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present inven- Figure 2 is aside elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section, partly broken away and taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational View to more clearly illustrate details of the mechanism for raising the weights.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating amodification of the apparatus whereby the power generated may be utilized to simultaneously drive a pair of generators.

Figure 7 is a detail section taken on the plane of line 'I'! of Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the present apparatus includes a suitable frame having an elongated low-built horizontal portion 5 having a vertically elongated upright portion 5d at one end thereof. Journaled on the upright frame portion 5a near the top thereof are transverse coaxial horizontal tubular shafts 6 and 6a, each having a pair of drums '1 secured. thereon. Freely rotatable in the tubular shafts 6 and 6a is a shaft 8 having a sprocket gear 9 fixed thereon between the adjacent ends of said tubular shafts 6 and 6a. The hub of sprocket wheel 9 has ratchet wheels I0 at opposite sides thereof engaged by pawls II carried by the inner ends of said tubular shafts 6 and 6a. The arrangement is such that when tubular shafts 6 and 6a are rotated in one direction, rotation will be imparted therefrom to the shaft 8 and sprocket wheel 9 fixed on the latter, but rotation of shafts 6 and 6a is freely permitted relative to shaft 8 in the opposite direction. Each of the tubular shafts .6 and Bot has a sprocket'wheel I2 fixed to the 2 outer end thereof for a purpose which will later be made apparent. The drums I of shaft 6 have corresponding ends of cables I3 attached thereto, while the drums I of shaft 6a have the corresponding ends of cables I3 attached thereto, the other ends of cables I3 being attached to a weight I4 and the other ends of cables I3 bein attached to a similar weight I4. The weights I4 and I4 partially embrace and are slidable along vertical frame members I5 of the frame portion 5a. The arrangement is such that when the weights lower, they rotate shafts 6 and 6a in a direction to drive the shaft 8, and when the shafts 6 and Ba are rotated to wind the cables I3 and I3 on the drums I, said shafts 6 and 6a rotate freely relative to shaft 8. Each sprocket wheel I2 has a sprocket chain i6 passed thereover, and around another sprocket wheel I! rotatably mounted on the adjacent projecting end of a transverse shaft I8 journaled on the frame portion 5a below the shaft 8. A worm gear I3 is fixed to each sprocket I? and meshes with a worm I9 fixed on a countershaft 26. The forward end of each shaft 29 is connected by a universal joint 2| with the stub shaft of a worm gear 22 meshing with a second worm 23 fixed on one end of a horizontal shaft 24 whose other end is operatively connected by a belt gearing 25 with a motor 26. Each shaft 24 preferably carries a flywheel 21, and it will be seen that shaft 29 may be shifted. vertically, as indicated in Figure 5,to either engage or disengage the worm I9 with respect to the associated worm wheel I8. Suitable switches 28 are provided on the frame members I5 directly under the pairs of drums I to throw the respective motors 26 out of operation-and further switches 29 are mounted at the lower ends of the frame members I5 for throwing the respect motors 26 into operation. The arrangement is such that when weight I4 reaches its upper limit of movement by winding of cables I3 on the associated drums I, said weight I4 will engage and operate switch 28 to throw the associated operating motor 26 out of operation, and when said weight I4 reaches its lower limit of movement, it will engage and operate switch 29 for throwing its operating motor 26 into operation. The same action takes place with respect to the switches 28 and 29 associated with weight I4.' As shown in Figure 3, a pair of vertically movable actuating rods wand 31 are movable through the top of a casing C and arranged to be depressed by the weight I4 when the latter approaches its lower limit of movement. Similar actuating rods 30a and 3Ia are provided in the path of the weight I4,

and rod 38 is connected to a bell crank lever 32 which is in turn connected by a link 33 with a bell crank lever 34 connected by link 35 with a further bell crank lever 36, connected to the lower end of actuating rod 38a and the lower end of a push rod 31 attached to the worm shaft 29 forming part of the gearing between the drums of shaft 6a and the associated motor 25. In alike manner, the rod 3Ia is connected with bell crank lever 32 that is connected by link 33 with bell crank lever 34, and bell crank lever 34 is connected by link 35 with a bell crank lever 36. Bell crank lever 36 and link 35" are connected with push rod 31 and with the lower end of actuating rod 3I, said push rod 31 being connected with the worm shaft 28 of the gearing between the drums of shaft 8 and the associated actuating motor 26. vided at 38 between each shaft 20 and the associated push rod 31 or 31, as shown more clearly in Figure 5, so that the connection of push rods 31 and 3-1" with the worm shafts 25 does not interfere with the free rotation of the latter at all times. The arrangement is such that when the weight I4 is elevated, as shown in Figure 3, the associated switch 28 will have been operated to throw the operating motor 26 for the drums of shaft "to out of operation, and the weight I i will have been lowered so as to actuate rods 35 and 3| to-elevate rods 38a and Ma and to lower push rod 31 so as to disengage the associated worm I9 from its worm gear I8, thereby permitting the weight I4 to lower and impart rotation to shaft 8. At the same time, push rod 31 will have been elevated to engage the asociated worm I9 with its worm gear I8 and the switch 29 associated with weight I4 will have been actuated to throw the motor 26, which operates the drums of shaft 8, into operation. Accordingly, while weight I4 is lowering, the cables I3 are being wound on drums 1 of shaft 6 to elevate weight I4. When weight I4 reaches its upper limit of movement, it actuates the associated switch 28 so as to throw the operating motor 28 out of operation which drives the drums of shaft 6, thereby stopping further elevation of said weight M. As the worm I9 of the driving gearing for the drums of shaft 6 is engaged with its associated worm gear I8, the drums of shaft 6 are locked against turning so as to hold the weight I4 elevated. When the weight M subsequently approaches its lower limit of movement, it actuates rods 38a and 31a so as to elevate rods 35 and 34. This causes a downward pull on rod 31 so as to free the drums of shaft 6 and permit the weight I4 to again lower. At this time, weight I4" will also engage associated switch 29, and push rod 31 will be actuated to engage its worm I9 with its associated worm wheel I3. This results in operation of the motor 26 which drives the drums of shaft 6a so that the cables I3 are wound on the associated drums to again elevate weight I4. Thus, the weights are automatically alternately elevated and permitted to lower so as to effect a substantially continuous driving of shaft 8 in the same direction.

A sprocket wheel 48 is rotatable on shaft I8, and a sprocket chain 4I passes around sprocket wheel 9 and sprocket wheel 48. A further sprocket wheel 42 is fixed to sprocket wheel 48 and freely rotatable on shaft I8, and mounted on the frame portion forwardly of shaft I8 is a transverse horizontal shaft 43 having a sprocket wheel 44 fixed thereon. A sprocket chain 45 passes around the sprocket wheels 42 A swivel connection is pro- 4 and 44 to drive the shaft 43, and rotation of shaft 43 is successively imparted to further transverse horizontal shafts 48 and 41 by means of spur gearings 48 and 49. Spur gearing 48 includes a gear which may be manually engaged with or disengaged from shaft 46 by means of a clutch 56) having an operating handle 5|, and the shafts 45 and 41 preferably have pairs of flywheels 52 and 53 fixed thereon. Uniform rotation of shaft 41 is insured by a suitable centrifugal governing means generally indicated at 5 and rotation of shaft 41 is transmitted to an electrical generator 55 by means of a belt gearing 55. The generator 55 is mounted upon thev forward end of frame portion 5, and, the current derived from this generator may be suitably distributed for use as desired. The various flywheels provide momentum for the shafts on which they are fixed so as to cause rotation thereof to be continued for some time even after discontinuation of transmission of power thereto.

As shown in Figure 6, a pair of generators 55a. and 551) may have their shafts coupled together for being simultaneously driven from shaft 41 through a sprocket gearing 51 from shaft, 41 to a countershaft 5'8 and a belt gearing 59 from counter'shaft 58 to the shafts of generators 55a and 55b. The shafts of generators 55a and 55b are also preferably provided with flywheels 68.

In operation, assuming that the parts are positioned as shown in Figure 3, the weight I4 is about to be elevated by winding cables I3 on the drums 1 of shaft 5, the weight I4 having actuated the associated switch 29 to throw the proper motor 25 into operation for driving said shaft 5 through the gearing described including worm gear I8 and worm I9, and said worm I9 having been engaged with its associated worm gear I8. At thi time, the push rod 31 will have been lowered to disengage the worm I9 from the worm gear I8 of the gearing for driving shaft Go, thereby permitting the weight I4 to lower. As the weight I4 gradually or slowly lowers, it turns shaft 6a and causes rotation of shaft '8 through the ratchet driving connection II associated therewith. This rotation of shaft 8 is then transmitted through the various gea'rings described to the generator 55 or generators 55a and 5512. As soon as weight I4 approaches its lower limit of movement, it will perform a. similar operation to that described in connection with weight I4 so as to cause said weight I4 to again be elevated and so as to release weight I4 so as to permit the latter to lower and, thereby continue the driving of shaft 8 through the ratchet driving connection between shaft 6 and shaft 8. Of course, when weight I4 approached its upper limit of movement, it actuated the associated switch 28 to throw the operating motor 26 out of operation which drives the shaft 6 for winding cables I3 on the drums 1 of said shaft 6. This alternate raising of the weights and permission of the same to lower continues as long as current is supplied to the motors 26.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and operation of the present apparatus will be readily understood bythose skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, rotatably mounted spaced co-axial tubular shafts, a winding drum fixed on each of said shafts, a cable attached to each drum, a weight suspended by each cable, means to operate each drum for winding its cable thereon and thereby raising the associated weight, each operating means including gearing and a driving motor therefor, each gearing including a worm wheel and a worm movable into and out of engagement with said worm wheel to respectively effect winding of the cable on the drum to raise the weight and to permit unwinding of the cable from the drum to allow the weight to lower by gravity, switch. means operable by each weight upon approaching its upward limit of movement to throw the associated motor out of operation, further switch means operable by each weight upon approaching its lower limit of movement to throw the associated motor into operation, means operable by each Weight upon approaching its lower limit of movement to engage the worm of its associated gearing with the worm wheel thereof and to simultaneously disengage the worm of the gearing associated with the other weight from the worm wheel thereof, whereby the weights will be automatically alternately raised and allowed to lower, a driven shaft journaled in said tubular shafts, a ratchet driving connection between each tubular shaft and said driven shaft to eifect driving of the latter by each aubular shaft upon lowering of the weight associated with the latter, and means for transmitting power from said driven shaft including a train of gear-- ing having countershafts, and flywheels on said countershafts.

2. In an apparatus of the character described,

" rotatably mounted spaced co-aXial tubular shafts,

a winding drum fixed on each of said shafts, a cable attached to each drum, a weight suspended by each cable, means to operate each drum for winding its cable thereon and thereby raising the associated weight, each operating means including gearing and a driving motor therefor, each gearing including a worm wheel and a worm movable into and out of engagement with said worm wheel to respectively efiect Winding of the cable on the drum to raise the weight and to permit unwinding of the cable from the drum to allow the weight to lower by gravity, switch means operable by each weight upon approaching its upward limit of movement to throw the associated motor out of operation, further switch means operable by each weight upon approaching its lower limit of movement to throw the associated motor into operation, means operable by each weight upon approaching its lower limit of movement to engage the worm of its associated gearing with the worm wheel thereof and to simultaneously disengage the worm of the gearing associated with the other weight from the Worm wheel thereof, whereby the weights will be automatically alternately raised and allowed to lower, a drivenshaft journaled in said tubular shafts, a ratchet driving connection be tween each tubular shaft and said driven shaft to effect driving of the latter by each tubular shaft upon lowering of the weight associated with the latter, and means for transmitting power from said driven shaft including a train of gearing having countershafts, and flywheels on said countershafts, said worm engaging and disengaging means including a push rod connected to each worm, a push rod operating rod arranged in the path of each weight, a second operating rod arranged in the path of each weight, and means operatively connecting the push rod operating rod associated with each weight with the second operating rod associated with the other weight, whereby said operating rods are automatically re-set for actuation by the weights.

CHARLES E. SOWERWINE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 207,403 Driver Aug. 27, 1878 994,840 Hess June 13, 1911 398,400 Huckabay Feb. 26, 1889 1,391,811 Atherton Sept. 2'7, 1921 

